Lucidi, EmmanueleMemorie Storiche Dell'Antichissimo Municipio Ora Terra Dell'Ariccia e Delle Sue Colonie Genzano, E Nemi, Dedicate a Sua Eccellenza Il Signor D. Agostino ChigiRome Presso I Lazzarini 1796 1st Edition Hardcover Very Good Book. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. xii, 502 pp. Full and rich history of Ariccia and surrounding towns on the outskirts of Rome, to the Southeast of the City by Castel Gandolfo (the Papal Summer Residence). Ariccia is one of the most ancient cities in Italy, dating to at least the ninth century B.C. This history concentrates mostly on the seventeenth and eighteenth century when it was ruled by the powerful Savelli Chigi family, which produced one pope, Alexander VII, and built a grand residence in the town that has been used many a time as a movie set, such as in Visconti's "Il Gattopardo" ("The Leopard"). While it is over two millenia since the town yielded to Rome's preeminence as a city, Ariccia continued to be the next most important city in Lazio for long stretches of history owing to its propitious location on the Via Appia, the first way station on the road between Rome and Naples, and its pleasant, salubrious climate, in contrast to malalial Rome, made it a favored resort for the powerful of Rome in prior centuries. This copy of the history, a model of municipal histories in its day, is very good. There is some light and occasional foxing, yet little that could be considered disconcerting. The exception would be the four places where a prior owner presses leaves, which left a residue and in one instance, may have created a tiny wormhole type of hole. However, the small amount of loss has no effect on readability where it occurred. The vellum has an attractive mottled, almost tiger striped design. Book is tight. Occasional light pencil notes, a word or two in each case, affecting a handful of pages. Still a very good copy.
Price:
700.00 USD